While each state holds a primary, the amount of time between [[Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 state legislative elections|signature filing deadlines]] can differ greatly. In 2014, candidates running for state legislative office in [[State legislative elections, 2014#Alabama|Alabama]] have just 60 days between their filing deadline and primary. Meanwhile, candidates in [[State legislative elections, 2014#Missouri|Missouri]] have a massive 133 days, more than double that of Alabama, to to campaign for the primary election. On average, candidates are given about 84 days between the filing deadline and primary election to get their message to voters.

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===Filing deadlines===

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[[File:2014 Days between filing and primary.png|thumb|400px|right|The number of days between the candidate filing deadline and primary election vary widely from state to state]]

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[[State legislative elections, 2014#Illinois|Illinois]] and [[State legislative elections, 2014#Texas|Texas]] opened the 2014 campaign season with filing deadlines in December 2013. The latest filing deadline in 2014 will be in [[State legislative elections, 2014#Delaware|Delaware]] on July 8. The state legislative filing deadlines listed by month are as follows:

The 2014 state legislative primaries start in [[State legislative elections, 2014#Texas|Texas]] on March 4 and will end on September 9 with a cluster of primaries in [[State legislative elections, 2014#Delaware|Delaware]], [[State legislative elections, 2014#Massachusetts|Massachusetts]], [[State legislative elections, 2014#New Hampshire|New Hampshire]] and [[State legislative elections, 2014#Rhode Island|Rhode Island]]. The state primaries listed by month are as follows:

A total of 1,090 (55.3%) of the country's 1,972 state senate seats are up for re-election in November 2014, and 4,958 (91.6%) of the country's 5,411 state house seats are up for re-election. Altogether, 6,048 (81.9%) of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats are up for re-election during the presidential election year.

Impact of term limits

Thirteen state senate chambers and thirteen state house chambers that held general elections on November 4, 2014 include some state legislators who were unable to run for re-election in 2012 because of their state's legislative term limits.

A total of 63 state senators are termed-out in 2014. This represents 19% of the 331 total state senate seats up for election in the 14 term-limited state senates with elections in November 2014.

A total of 160 state representatives are termed-out. This represents 12.7% of the 1,261 total seats up for election in the 13 term-limited states with elections in November 2014.

Altogether, 223 current state legislators must leave office after the November elections because of term limits. This is 14% of the 1,592 state legislative seats up for election in the 14 term-limited states with 2014 elections, and about 3.7% of the 6,047 state legislative seats that are up for election altogether in 2014, including the non-term-limited states.

State senators

There are 42 state senates holding general elections in November 2014. In 14 of these states, state senators are subject to term limits. Louisiana are the only states with state senate term limits that will not have a general election for their state senates in 2014.

Going into the 2014 elections, the Democratic Party is the majority party in four of the 14 state senates with term limits. The Republican Party is the majority in 9 of the 14 state senates with term limits. Nebraska's state senate is term-limited and officially Non-partisan.

In four states, more Democrats are term-limited out than Republicans. In California, the majority party is Democratic. In Arkansas, Florida and Montana, the majority party is Republican.

In seven states, more Republicans are term-limited out than Democrats. In Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Dakota, the majority party is Republican. In Colorado, Maine and Nevada, the majority party is Democratic.

In one state, Ohio, equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats are term-limited in November 2014. Heading into the election, the majority party in Ohio is Republican.

There are no Arizona senators affected by term-limits in 2014.

State representatives

There are 45 state houses holding general elections in November 2014. In 13 of these states, state house terms are subject to term limits. There are 15 states with state legislative term limits, but Louisiana will not hold a state house election in 2012 and Nebraska does not have a state house.

160 current state representatives are ineligible to run for re-election in November because of term limit laws in their state. This includes:

73 incumbent Democratic state representatives

87 incumbent Republican state representatives

Going into the 2014 elections, the Democratic Party is the majority party in four of the 14 state senates with term limits. The Republican Party is the majority in 9 of the 14 state senates with term limits. Nebraska's state senate is term-limited and officially Non-partisan.

In four states, more Democrats are term-limited out than Republicans. In California, the majority party is Democratic. In Arkansas, Florida and Montana, the majority party is Republican.

In seven states, more Republicans are term-limited out than Democrats. In Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Dakota, the majority party is Republican. In Colorado, Maine and Nevada, the majority party is Democratic.

In one state, Ohio, equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats are term-limited in November 2012. Heading into the election, the majority party in Ohio is Republican.

There are no Arizona senators affected by term-limits in 2014.

Impact on parties

Republican representatives will take a larger hit from term limits in the 2014 state legislative elections than the Democratic Party, both in terms of how many individual incumbent legislators the Republican Party will lose (113, versus 95 for the Democratic Party) and in terms of how many state legislative chambers lost more Republicans (12, versus 10 for Democrats).

Incumbents

Party

# of termed senators

# of termed representatives

Total

Democratic

22

73

95

Republican

24

87

113

Non-partisan

17

0

17

Chambers

Party

Senates with most losses

Houses with most losses

Total

Democratic

4

6

10

Republican

5

7

12

Equal D/R losses (or non-partisan chamber)

4

0

4

Election dates

While each state holds a primary, the amount of time between signature filing deadlines can differ greatly. In 2014, candidates running for state legislative office in Alabama have just 60 days between their filing deadline and primary. Meanwhile, candidates in Missouri have a massive 133 days, more than double that of Alabama, to to campaign for the primary election. On average, candidates are given about 84 days between the filing deadline and primary election to get their message to voters.

Filing deadlines

The number of days between the candidate filing deadline and primary election vary widely from state to state

Illinois and Texas opened the 2014 campaign season with filing deadlines in December 2013. The latest filing deadline in 2014 will be in Delaware on July 8. The state legislative filing deadlines listed by month are as follows:

Arizona

Arizona's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins the first day of the session after they are elected. Each regular session begins on the first Monday in January. Members are limited to four terms, for a total of eight years.

Arkansas

Arkansas's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins the first day of the session after they are elected. Each regular session begins on the second Monday in January. Members are limited to two terms, for a total of eight years.

California

California's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first Monday in December following their election. Senators are limited to serving no more than two four-year terms. California's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Monday in December following their election. Representatives are limited to serving no more than four two-year terms.

Colorado

Colorado's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on first day of the legislative session after their election, which begins no later than 10:00 AM on the second Wednesday of January. Senators are limited to to no more than two consecutive terms. Colorado's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on first day of the legislative session after their election, which begins no later than 10:00 AM on the second Wednesday of January. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms.

Connecticut

Connecticut's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the Wednesday following the first Monday of January after their election. Connecticut's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the Wednesday following the first Monday of January after their election.

Delaware

Delaware's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins the second Tuesday in January following their election.. Delaware's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins the second Tuesday in January following their election..

Florida

Florida's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins two weeks following their election. Senators are limited to no more than two consecutive four-year terms. Florida's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins two weeks following their election. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms.

Georgia

Georgia's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the second Monday in January. Georgia's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the second Monday in January.

Hawaii

Hawaii's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first day of Legislative session after the election (usually the third Wednesday of January). Hawaii's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of Legislative session after the election (usually the third Wednesday of January).

Idaho

Idaho's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of December following the general election. Idaho's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of December following the general election.

Illinois

Illinois' state senators are elected to a two or four-year term that begins on the second Wednesday in January. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, senators are divided into three groups, each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms Illinois' state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the second Wednesday in January.

Indiana

Indiana's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the day after their general election. Indiana's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the day after their general election.

Iowa

Iowa's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the second Monday of January after their election. Iowa's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the second Monday of January after their election.

Kentucky

Kentucky's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first day of January after their election. Kentucky's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of January after their election.

Louisiana

Maine

Maine's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Wednesday in December after their election. Senators are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. Maine's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Wednesday in December after their election. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms.

Maryland

Maryland's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the second Wednesday in January after the election. Maryland's state representatives are elected to a four-year term that begins on the second Wednesday in January after the election.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts' state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Wednesday in January after the election. Massachusetts' state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Wednesday in January after the election.

Michigan

Michigan's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first day of January. Michigan's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of January.

Mississippi

Missouri

Missouri's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first day of the legislative session. Senators are limited to no more than two four-year terms. Missouri's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of the legislative session. Representatives are limited to no more than four two-year terms.

Montana

Montana's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first Monday of January following the election. Montana term limits state that officials may not seek re-election if they have held office for eight years in a 16-year period. Montana's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Monday of January following the election. Montana term limits state that officials may not seek re-election if they have held office for eight years in a 16-year period.

Nevada

Nevada's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the day after the election. Nevada's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the day after the election.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the month after elections (December). New Hampshire's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the month after elections (December).

North Carolina

North Carolina's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of the new General Assembly in January. North Carolina's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of the new General Assembly in January.

Ohio

Ohio's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on January 1st. Senators are limited to no more than two consecutive terms. Ohio's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on January 1st. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on November 17th. Senators are limited to no more than a combined total of twelve years in the senate and house of representatives. Oklahoma's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on November 17th. Representatives are limited to no more than a combined total of twelve years in the senate and house of representatives.

Oregon

Oregon's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the second Monday in January. Oregon's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the second Monday in January.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Tuesday in January. Rhode Island's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Tuesday in January.

South Dakota

South Dakota's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of session after election (Jan. 11). Senators are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. South Dakota's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of session after election (Jan. 11). Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms.

Tennessee

Tennessee's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the 15th of January after the election. Tennessee's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the 15th of January after the election.

Texas

Texas's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the beginning of the legislative session (January). Texas's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the beginning of the legislative session (January).

Utah

Utah's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first day of January following a November election. Utah's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of January following a November election.

Vermont

Vermont's state senators are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January. Vermont's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January.

Virginia

Washington

Washington's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first day of session. Washington's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of session.

West Virginia

West Virginia's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first day of December following the election. West Virginia's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first day of December following the election.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first Monday in January following the election. Wisconsin's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Monday in January following the election.

Wyoming

Wyoming's state senators are elected to a four-year term that begins on the first Monday in January following the election. Wyoming's state representatives are elected to a two-year term that begins on the first Monday in January following the election.